Rubber Duck Crazy

Hello Most Excellent Ones,

I don't think the guy who invented the rubber duck could ever have imagined his creation would become an international sensation.  Or that the spin off industry from a yellow rubber duck would be so diverse.  Well, I have proof.  Kaohsiung, Taiwan has gone bonkers over a yellow rubber duck.  A bathtub toy.

Hmm

An inflatable yellow rubber duck has invaded Taiwan.

 Part of the skyline of Kaohsiung.

Its big alright.

 Rubber duck bag.

 Battery powered rubber duck with blinking lights and egg laying options.

 Stuffed rubber ducks.

 Yes, you could actually find a normal sized actual rubber duck.

 Rubber duck popsicles.

 Rubber duck bill that actually makes a sound like a duck.

 Rubber duck hats.

 Rubber ducks!

 Some kind of rubber duck game.

 Plush rubber ducks!

 Painting a rubber duck.

 Balloon rubber ducks.

 Inflatable ducks on a boat.

 UGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG! Enough already!  But no there is more...

 Buddhist rubber duck sign.

 Delicious rubber duck timbit like heads.

 Rubber duck cake.

 Rubber duck bread.

Ok I think you get the picture.
Have a great week everyone.

Love adios and ping on!

Dirk

Taiwan

Hello Most Excellent People,

This week is Mid term break so I am on a much needed and do I dare say, well deserved rest.  On Monday I flew with some great people to Kaohsiung (cow shing), Taiwan, then took a taxi with a tobacco chewing driver and am now at the Yoho Bike Hotel near Kenting National Park.  Kenting is located in the southernmost tip of Taiwan and its claim to fame besides awesome, rugged beauty, is that the movie, Life of Pi, was filmed there.

Taiwan's national aquarium is also located nearby and we spent Tuesday biking there and checking it out.  The weather has been cool in the morning, hot during noon, and cooler again in the evening.  So not bad for biking.  

On Wednesday we biked to Baisha Bay, rode the waves, enjoyed some food and hung out. 

Thursday morning was spent biking and in the afternoon we traveled to Kaohsiung. It's a drab port city of about 2.5 million people, but we got a good deal on a five star hotel and wanted to experience that.  

After spending a night in the five star we hung out at its rooftop pool on Friday and then visited the worst art gallery on the planet and took a drab harbour ride.  Not the greatest activities.  Yet all in all Taiwan was good and the biking is excellent!

The following pictures will speak their thousands of words (please note due to a blog malfunction pictures are shown from recent to old, not reverse, ugh):

Have a great week everyone!

Love adios and peng on!

Dirk

Sweet biking.  Taiwan was excellent.

Stop I assume

 Roads were not busy.  Great for biking.

 Unspectacular Kaohsuing

 View from hotel.  I couldn't believe it.  The giant rubber duck is in Kaohsuing!

 A dragon lion playing with a little dragon lion.

 Good to see my old friend again.  He was in Hong Kong several months ago.

 The duck is a hit.

 Roof top pool and Hotel.  Swanky!

 View of Kaohsuing.

 A hit where ever he goes.

 Taiwan's flag.

 Harbour scenes.

 Hamburg sud is everywhere!

 The Tuntex Sky Tower.

 A few motor bikes and bikes.

Baisha Bay

Prawns and fried oyster.

In front of an amazing sea life store.

 No idea what it says, but ok I get the bike picture.

 The rugged coast of Kenting, Taiwan

 Coral turned into jagged rock.

 Not a bad way to spend a vacation.

 A protective barrier against the ocean.

 Small town Taiwan.

 Thought this was rather artistic.

 Home with a painted mural.

 Samples of life in rural Taiwan.  Many homes had wood for cooking.

 At the national aquarium.  Statues outside the main entrance.

 Yes I was allowed to go in the water!

 Some samples of what I saw in the aquarium.

 The guy is real.  He was cleaning the glass in the tank.

 There was a section with interesting tunnels.

 Inside a seashell store.  Amazing.

 The coast line of Kenting.

 Waves were massive.

 The Life of Pi.

 Spectacular coast line.

 Buddhist shrine.  

Tiger confronting a dragon.